Main Entry: il·lus·trate

Pronunciation: \ˈi-ləs-ˌtrāt also i-ˈləs-\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): il·lus·trat·ed; il·lus·trat·ing

Etymology: Latin illustratus, past participle of illustrare, from in- + lustrare to purify, make bright — more at luster

Date: 1526

transitive verb 1 obsolete a : enlighten b : to light up
2 a archaic : to make illustrious b obsolete (1) : to make bright (2) : adorn
3 a : to make clear : clarify b : to make clear by giving or by serving as an example or instance c : to provide with visual features intended to explain or decorate <illustrate a book>
4 : to show clearly : demonstrateintransitive verb : to give an example or instance

— il·lus·tra·tor \ˈi-ləs-ˌtrā-tər also i-ˈləs-\ noun